Watch the 9ers carefully as I think this will be an important tweak to make to the zone option plays we run next year. It gives the runner the ability to run downhill rather than starting from a standing position.

Also an interesting twist is how San Fran will sometimes send a lead blocker at the outside defender and have the QB run it regardless. We did some variations on that, but the 9ers run it to perfection.

Every one with eyes knows, the way the Panthers runs their RO they shouldn't run it much at all, cause it gives away to the defenders what their gonna do (plus the delay, the non motion of the RB's, along with the change of alignment etc.).

The way Frisco and especially Wash runs the pistol and misdirection, there's just so much deception involved.

Of course, you need a great running attack and/or Off line as well. But if the Panthers do it. Do it well, or don't do it at all.

The Redskins run the Pistol to profection. I always hated that Chud wouldn't do more with this formation. He'd only get in it like one or two times a game, like it was some type of secret formation that he wanted to keep in his back pocket or some poo.

What the 49ers do isn't even technically "option football" sometimes is play action on the dive the run a QB sweep. There is no read involved, no hesitation for the offense, and the lead blockers know where the ball is going. It's an intelligent evolution beyond the read option. The defense never knows if its a true read option or a play action so they have to hesitate.